BC’s defense scares ’Dores in Music City Bowl

D.J. Moore and Vanderbilt are ready to battle Boston College in the Music City Bowl. File

As a former defensive coordinator, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson can’t help but admire what Boston College’s defense has done.

As someone who must send his offense out against that unit today in the 11th annual Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl at LP Field, there is an undeniable sense of trepidation.

“They’ve scored more non-offensive touchdowns than anyone else in the nation,” Johnson said. “So either interception returns or fumble returns or blocked kicks or whatever, they’ve scored more than anyone in the nation.

“… It scared me when I saw that.”

Turnovers often play a part in which team wins and which one loses a football game, but there might be no greater factor in determining whether BC continues the country’s longest active bowl win streak (eight games) or whether VU puts a positive finish on its most memorable season in more than a generation.

Both the Commodores (6-6) and the Eagles (9-4) have relied heavily on their ability to take the ball from opposing offenses and turn them into points. The difference is the number of times BC has turned takeaways – or similar plays – into instant offense.

The Eagles have scored five times on interception returns and once each on a fumble return, a blocked punt and a punt return. Seven different players have accounted for those scores, which have covered distances of 13 and 87 yards.

All but one of those returns took place in games BC won.

“It doesn’t matter what level you are, if you can hold the football or take it away, more times than not you’ll come out on the winning end,” BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. “…If you look back at the history of what we’ve done here the last couple years … we’ve been pretty consistent at doing that, as far as taking the football away.

“We have had opportunities to return some too this year.”

Similarly, Vanderbilt won the turnover battle in five of its six victories (it had an even split against Auburn). Only once in its six defeats did the Commodores come out on top in that regard.

Overall, 14 of VU’s 21 giveaways occurred in losses while 17 of its 27 takeaways came in games they won.

“(Boston College’s defenders) are physical and they play well in open spaces and they catch the ball very well on defense,” Johnson said. “We’re going to try our best not to help them out, to take care of the football, to do what we’re supposed to do on special teams.

“They’ve forced a lot of teams into some bad mistakes.”